Mechanism of aerobic exercise with acupuncture needles in improving cognitive function via NLRP 3/Cas-pase-1/GSDMD-mediated modulation of microglia pyroptosis in middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfu-sion rats
10.3969/j.issn.1001-1242.2025.03.002
- VernacularTitle:带针下有氧运动通过NLRP 3/Caspase-1/GSDMD调节小胶质细胞焦亡改善MCAO/R大鼠认知功能的机制研究
- Author:
Bai CHEN
1
;
Jing CHENG
;
Yijing JIANG
Author Information
1. 福建中医药大学附属康复医院,福建省 福州市,350003;福建省康复技术重点实验室
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
learning and memory dysfunction;
aerobic exercise with needles;
microglia pyroptosis;
neuroinflam-mation;
microglia activation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
2025;40(3):326-335
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise with acupuncture needles on the learning and memory ability in rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)and to explore the underly-ing mechanisms.Method:Male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:sham,model,aerobic exercise with acupunc-ture needles,and inhibitor groups(n=12 per group).In the sham group,only the left common carotid artery,in-ternal carotid ar tery,and external carotid artery were exposed without inducing ischemia,while the other three groups underwent MCAO/R modeling.To establish an MCAO/R model with reduced NLRP3 expression,rats in the inhibitor group received an intraperitoneal injection of MCC950 60 minutes before modeling.On the first day of post-modeling,the Zea-Longa score and T2 WI were used to screen the MCAO/R rats.From the second day,rats in the aerobic exercise with acupuncture needles and the inhibitor groups were underwent a 14-day intervention.The acupoints were selected for"Shenting"(GV 24)and"Baihui"(GV 20),with sparse waveform at a frequency 2/10Hz and a current intensity of 1-3mA.Simultaneously,the rats performed tread-mill exercise,with speeds of 4m/min(day 1-3),6m/min(day 4-7),and 8m/min(day 8-14)for 30min/day.Afterthe intervention,neurological function was reassessed,and the new object recognition test was used to measure the learning and memory ability,and the pathological changes of the hippocampus were observed by HE staining.The protein expressions of NLRP 3,GSDMD,and Caspase-1 were detected by Western Blot and immunofluorescence,ELISA detected the contents of ILL-1β and IL-18,the expression and localization of IBA 1 and NLRP 3 were detected by double immunofluorescent staining.Result:The hippocampal neurons in the ischemic side of the rats were loosely and disorderly arranged in the model group.Compared to the sham group,the model group showed significantly impaired neurological func-tion and novel object recognition ability(P＜0.01),with significant increased expression of NLRP 3,GSDMD,and Caspase-1(P＜0.01),and elevated ILL-lβ and IL-18 contents(P＜0.01).In addition,IBA 1 and NLRP 3 fluo-rescence expression were enhanced(P＜0.01),and many IBA 1+/NLRP 3+double-positive cells were observed un-der the microscope(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the aerobic exercise with acupuncture needles group showed significant improvements in neurological function and the new object recognition index(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),reduced hippocampal pathological injury,decreased expression of NLRP 3,GSDMD,and Caspase-1 d(P＜0.01)and lower IL-lβ and IL-18 levels(P＜0.05);the activation of microglia and the expression of IBA 1,NL-RP 3 and the number of IBA 1+/NLRP 3+double-positive cells decreased(P＜0.01).The inhibitor group demon-strated even greater improvements in neural function and new object recognition performance than the aerobic exercise with acupuncture needles group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),with further reductions in NLRP 3,GSDMD,Caspase-1 protein expression(P＜0.01)and lower level of IL-1β,IL-18(P＜0.01,P＜0.05);the microglia activation level,the number,arrangement and morphology of nerve cells were closely resembled those in the sham group,and there was minimal NLRP 3 microglia observed under the microscope(P＜0.01).Conclusion:Aerobic exercise with acupuncture needles at"Shenting"(GV 24)and"Baihui"(GV 20)points could improve the learning and memory function in MACO/R rats by inhibiting microglia pyroptosis and activa-tion,thereby reducing neuroinflammation.
